People
sometimes wonder why many female athletes play in contact sports such as
wrestling, football or rugby. Aren't those sports too tough on them? And
more people ask themselves the same question when they see women train in a
contact martial art such as Kyokushin Karate. You might be able to find an
answer from the interview below.
sasaki: Did you know
anything about Kyokushin Karate before joining us?
all three: No. If we had known we might not have joined (laughter).
sasaki: I think you
observed a class before you actually signed up. Didn't you get scared of the
contact fighting?
mayumi: I was a bit afraid but there were some female students training
when I watched the class. They looked great, and just as capable of sparring
as male students.
emi:
My case was different. The class I
observed happened to be a
women's class. I saw some fighting but most of the class focused on
self-defense techniques. And I was impressed by their strong kiai and spirit
towards training. I decided to sign up as soon as I got back home.
sasaki: I think the most
unique part of Kyokushin Karate, compared to other karate styles, is its way
of fighting, contact sparring, that is. I was always curious how a female
student can handle the tough fighting training. I, like a man quite often
even feel fear when facing a bigger partner in sparring at my dojo.
junko: The sparring part is very tough. No doubt about it. But most of
the male students know how to control their techniques and how to adjust
power and speed depending on a partner they fight with.
mayumi:
I think the difficult part is when I fight a male white belt.
As I was so, a white belt is not capable enough of controlling his own
moves. So, a fight with a beginner usually gets very awkward as a kick and a
punch from him get delivered at an unexpected angle and timing. In contrast,
sparring with a higher ranking student is very smooth. It gives me an
opportunity to exchange proper defense-counter techniques.
emi:
There is, of course, some pain to a certain degree when fighting.
That's why a student takes defensive techniques heavily. After all, we are
learning a fighting style, not just another physical exercise. I think the
contact sparring is realistic and teaches us how to defend ourselves
effectively.
sasaki: I understand that
a male student controls his power in sparring as much as he could so a
female student does not get hurt unnecessarily. But what if the female
student possesses a better fighting skill than the male student does. I
think it would be very tough for him to control himself. Like Mayumi-san, I noticed your fighting ability has
improved a lot lately. I think quite a few male students are having a tough
time sparring with you. Don't they sometimes forget you are a woman, and
begin using more force against you?
mayumi:
I hope they remember I am always a woman (laughter). Seriously,
I noticed that, too. I guess, as my belt level goes up, my skill is
improving without my knowing. I've recently found that I can read a sparring
partner's move in advance more often than before. If you know ahead of time
when and what technique your opponent delivers, chances are pretty high for
you to successfully retaliate by clearly landing a punch or a kick. But
then, a male student does not want to lose either, especially to a woman.
That's when he gets more serious and starts putting more power in his
techniques. Unfortunately, I must admit that there is no comparison between
a man and a small woman like me when it comes to muscle strength. I think
that's the biggest challenge I'm facing now and I know I have to overcome it
somehow.
sasaki: A small person attacked by a
bigger person... If you think about what happens on streets, that's the case
at all times. I think sparring in the contact rules teaches a student how to handle a taller and heavier attacker than him or her.
So, what do you think a solution is to the rather difficult task?
mayumi: I think I will have to work hard on speed, and more importantly
learn a side step with quick footwork.
sasaki: Umm.... my role
today is only an interviewer, but I'm learning a lot as a student here. Ok,
the next thing I would like to ask is: Has anything changed in you since
joining Kyokushin?
emi:
Yes, many things changed. Since I began training at the downtown
dojo, my self-confidence has increased. I usually get very tired at my work.
Sometimes, I feel like skipping a class. But I've never done that. Pushing
myself hard strengthens my self-esteem. Also, I use to suffer the stress I
get from my job, but it doesn't happen anymore. I guess kicking and punching
at the dojo relieves daily stress and pressure.
junko: Like Emi-san said, the workout we do in a class provides extra
energy to help support a busy life style. Plus, I found myself become
self-motivated. In every class, I set a small goal like making one extra
push up or mastering a certain move in a kata. I think achieving tiny
attempts like that will someday lead me to a major goal. And that kind of
thinking can be used positively in any life situation.
mayumi:
I think Kyokushin Karate helps me in staying focused mentally.
My concentration level has gone up since joining the club. I'm also
learning how to discipline myself in the dojo. I use to be the type of
person who does not squarely face an obstacle. I would make an excuse to
avoid a challenge. That weakness of mine has been fading gradually.
sasaki: Training
Kyokushin, of course, gives us an excellent workout to keep us in
shape. However, as the three of you said, it's the spiritual part of
training that influences us more significantly, I think. OK, let me ask you
the last question. What's your goal in practicing Karate?
mayumi:
My short term goal is competing in Vancouver Cup in December.
This will be my first attempt in tournament fighting. For the next three
months, I would like to challenge myself as to whether or not I can follow
through both a heavy study load at my college and a more serious tournament
workout. I know it's going to be tough but I want to try because something
might change in me when I achieve it.
junko: Through training at the dojo, I found that Kyokushin Karate is
not a sport. It is Budo (Martial Way) where people, regardless of gender
and age, commit themselves to training throughout their life. I feel like I
have found something I can keep doing for my entire life. I think my goal is
really simple, just keep learning techniques step by step and keep on
training through my life.
emi: My goal is same as Junko's. Just keep training hard in the dojo,
and someday, I want to take the Black Belt exam and pass it. I don't know
when it will happen but that'll be my goal.
sasaki: Thank you very much for
spending time with us today. I think you shed some light on the title of
this interview for us.
Most people have a tendency to
only pay attention to the physical workout and fighting of the contact
karate style. But it seems that students of
Kyokushin Karate receive more
positive influence in a mental and spiritual way. Female students
represented by these three ladies today are no exception. In regards to
contact fighting for women, the risk of getting injury is always minimized.
The primary reason for this is all students are educated to respect each
other. When contact sparring, a higher ranking belt works on defensive
techniques, letting a lower belt attack more. A male student controls his
techniques more when fighting with a female student, so he gets to learn the
distance and timing to deliver techniques while she can develop her fighting
skill as safely as possible. That's how we all grow together regardless of
age and gender. Women in Contact Karate? Why not!?
*Mayumi fought very well in the
Vancouver Cup 2003,
which was held on December 14 last year. Her impressive fight in the event
brought positive impact to our club and inspired many VKK students.
*Interviewed at the downtown dojo on September 24, 2003
